Aclu Meddling

March 08, 1992|By J.W. Dickinson Jr.

LINCOLNSHIRE — All the U.S. Constitution has to say about religion is contained in the 1st Amendment: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . .``

I do not think that I will ever understand how the courts have managed to twist that clear, simple statement to the point of subverting the freedom of speech, also guaranteed by that same amendment. The latest case in point is the objection of the American Civil Liberties Union to the sign ``The World Needs God`` appearing on the Hillsboro, Ill. courthouse (Tempo, Feb. 21).

The good people of Hillsboro might simply delete or paint over the word God. Everyone would still understand the message and it would stand as a silent monument to the ACLU.

Better still, delete the word God and add the phrase ``Courtesy of the ACLU.``

It would appear that the ACLU has misplaced priorities. I suggest the ACLU attempt to right all of the serious problems in the country. When they have finished all of that and still have funds and energy remaining, that would be the time to attack Hillsboro`s threat to freedom.